Mental Health and Your Vision

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the USA; in Canada, Mental Health week is May 6th to 12th. Since 1949, it has been observed throughout the United States as a way of drawing attention to the importance of proper mental health. This year’s theme is #4Mind4Body. The idea is that using elements around us, such as the people in our lives, faith, nature, and even pets, can strengthen wellness and overall mental health.

Did you know that your vision can affect your mental health? While things like stress, trauma, and family history are factors that impact mental health, vision can also impact it.

How Does Vision Affect Mental Health?

Certain types of eye diseases and visual impairments can lead to emotional problems like anxiety and depression. This is particularly common in cases of severe vision loss. Patients with glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy, for example, can experience mild to acute vision loss. This can make everyday activities like driving, running errands, watching TV, using a computer, or cooking, a difficult and painful experience. When this happens, it can cause a loss of independence, potentially leaving the person mentally and emotionally devastated.

Like most surgical procedures, LASIK corrective surgery is permanent and irreversible. Although it has very high success rates, LASIK has been considered the cause of depression and mental health issues in a few instances.

Kids’ Vision and Mental Health

Increased screen time among school-age children and teens has been shown to reduce emotional stability and cause repeated distractions and difficulty completing tasks, while also increasing the likelihood of developing nearsightedness.

Kids with visual problems often experience difficulty in school. If they can’t see the board clearly or constantly struggle with homework due to poor vision, they may act out their frustration or have trouble getting along with their peers.

Coping with Vision Problems

One of the most important ways to cope with visual problems is awareness. Simply paying attention to the signs and symptoms — whether the patient is an adult or a child — is a crucial first step.

Family members, close friends, colleagues, parents, and teachers can all play an important role in detecting emotional suffering in those with visual difficulties. Pay attention to signs of changes in behavior, such as a loss of appetite, persistent exhaustion, or decreased interest in favorite activities.

Thankfully, many common vision problems are treatable. Things like double vision, hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), amblyopia (lazy eye), and post-concussion vision difficulties can be managed. Vision correction devices, therapeutic lenses, visual exercises, or special prism glasses may help provide the visual clarity you need. Your primary eye doctor can help and a vision therapist or low vision expert may make a significant impact on your quality of life.

How You Can Help

There are some things you can do on your own to raise awareness about good mental health:

Speak Up

Often, just talking about mental health struggles can be incredibly empowering. Ask for help from family and friends or find a local support group. Be open and honest about what you’re going through and talk with others who are going through the same thing. Remember: you’re not alone.

If you experience any type of sudden changes to your vision — even if it’s temporary — talk to your eye doctor. A delay in treatment may have more serious consequences, so speak up and don’t wait.

Get Social

Developing healthy personal relationships improves mental health. People with strong social connections are less likely to experience severe depression and may even live longer. Go out with friends, join a club, or consider volunteering.

Have an Animal

Having a pet has been shown to boost mental health and help combat feelings of loneliness. Guide dogs can be especially beneficial for people suffering from vision loss.

Use Visual Aids

If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health issues caused by vision loss, visual aids can help. Devices like magnifiers or telescopic lenses can enlarge text, images, and objects, so you can see them more clearly and in greater detail.

Kids can benefit from vision correction like glasses, contacts, or specialized lenses for more severe cases of refractive errors. Vision therapy may be an option, too. It is a customized program of exercises that can improve and strengthen visual functions.

Always talk to your eye doctor about any concerns, questions, or struggles.

Thanks to programs like Mental Health Awareness Month, there is less of a stigma around mental health than just a few decades ago. Advancements in medical technologies and scientific research have led to innovative solutions for better vision care.

During this Mental Health Awareness Month, share your share your struggles, stories, and successes with others. Use the hashtag #Mind4Body and give your loved ones hope for a healthy and high quality of life.

Special Office Hours:

We love, love, LOVE Dr. Jessica Young. It's amazing how well she takes care of our kids and us adults. We look forward to seeing her every single year. she is so encouraging, kind and super funny. she makes us all feel very special. It is truly a delightful experience every time we go do our check up.

1 month ago

5

- lillian m.

eye doctor's office

If you're looking for an optometrist, look no further! I've been wearing glasses since I was 5 yo (so that's >30 yrs of wearing glasses!) and I've never met a more efficient, knowledgeable and personable optometrist than Dr. Young. She takes the time to explain everything thoroughly and kindly answered a million of my questions. She's lovely and approachable and makes you feel comfortable right away. I'm never going anywhere else!

1 month ago

5

- Jody C.

eye doctor's office

My entire family has been going to Dr. Jess for years! She always welcomes us with a smile, is very thorough and knowledgeable. She spotted an issue with one of my eyes early on and helped coordinate next steps with a specialist. My daughters always feel at ease as Dr. Jess explains every step to help them understand what is going on. Her level of care is top notch!

2 months ago

5

- Steph S.

eye doctor's office

The staff at Sheridan Optometric are wonderful. They are attentive and very helpful. Dr. Young is an amazing doctor who cares about her patients. I would definitely recommend Dr. Young and this clinic to others!

2 months ago

5

- Diana F.

eye doctor's office

I've been wearing glasses and contacts for as long as I can remember! I hated going to see my old optometrist...until I met with Dr.Young! She takes her time and is very thorough! She made me feel comfortable and answered all my crazy questions about eye care. I unknowingly had an eye infection due to contacts that I purchased online (I thought I just had allergies)...but thanks to Dr.Young...problem solved!

2 months ago

5

- Reena R.

eye doctor's office

Dr. Jessica Young takes care of my whole family. My kids, my parents and my husband. She helped diagnose my dad with a eye disease which if left untreated would have made him blind. She acted quickly and guided us through the whole process. Needless to say he's doing great. My husband suffers from migraines and she's been assisting him with the latest eye wear to help with his light sensitivity. The technicians are very helpful and always happy to help. We're always greeted with a smile.

2 months ago

5

- Lydia H.

eye doctor's office

Dr. Nisha Gupta at this location is fantastic! She is thorough, professional and approachable. My kids also felt instantly comfortable with her. They love going to the eye doctor now!